Entertainment6 04.09.12

the Stagg Line

Movies making historyMarch 15, 2012. The 40th anniversary of the original “Godfather.”

We thought it was an unspeakable crime that we could find students who had not seen the pinnacle of American filmaking. So we put together movies spanning the genres that either are,

or should be, classics. Enjoy!

Good:Supporting cast was strong and in some cases outpeformed main actors. Bad:For those who haven’t read the book, the plot may seem confusing and jumpy. Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Fullofviolenceandtwists,thisfilmcanappealtoavarietyofaudiences.Fromthesoundtracktotheactors’impassionedperformances,thisisonemoviethatispackedfullofemotion.Throwinastrongfemaleleadandtheexperienceiscomplete. ExpecttoshedatearortwoasyoufollowKatnissEverdeen(JenniferLawrence)fromherhomeinDistrict12tothecapitalofPanem,whereshemustbattleagainst23otherteens,twofromeachofthe12districts.Forsomecharactersthegamesareanoverwhelmingexperience,exceptforaselectfew,knownascareers,whotraintheirwholelivestobringhonortotheirdistricts. ThefilmshowsadystopianfutureinabrokenformerAmerica,Panem. Thegamesarethegovernment’swayofcontrol-lingthemasseswhohadoncerevolted.Theymustkeepthepeopleincheckbycontainingwhateverhopeofrevolutionisstillleft,tolittlemorethanaspark.Thegamesareawayofmakingsurethatthedisloyaltyisneverforgotten. Ifyou’renotafanofwatchingchildrenkilleachotherthenyoumaythinkthatthisfilmisnotforyou.Butwhilethefilmcentersaroundtheviolentcompetitionitalsoconveysmuchlargerthemes. Themagneticqualityofthefilmmaybeat-tributedtoitsportrayalofthefrustrationsofthisdecade.Thedesolateeconomydepictedinthefilm,

withconditionsreminiscentoftheGreatDepres-sion,isonethataudiencescanrelateto.ThepeopleofDistrict12liveinrundownhouseswithdustev-erywherecastingagloomoverthepeople’sexistence. FoodisscarceandKatnissandherfriendGalebothstruggletofeedtheirfamilies.Theybarelymakeendsmeetbyhuntingillegallyoutsidetheboundariesoftheirdistrictandsellingthemeatontheblackmarket. TheirsituationcontrastswiththebrightwealthoftheCapitol.Onecanseetheparallelstotoday’scurrenteconomicstatewiththe99percentlivinginthe12districtsandthe1percentinthecapitol.AndallthewhilethemusicinthebackgroundreflectsthedisparityoftheeconomicsituationswithmorerusticthemesforthedistrictsandgrandmarchesfortheCapitol.

Thescore’sfolksyqualitythroughallthefightingisasoothinglullabythathelpstoamplifytheemo-tionsofthefilm. Itmakesthepointthatthecompetitorsarejustkids,scaredandtryingtosurvive;theyjusthap-penedtobethrownintothemiddleofabloodbath. Whileitmaybehardtowatchthisaspectofthegames,themessagethatthemovieconveysisagainstviolenceascharactersdemonstratehumanityevenamongstthekilling. Whatmakesthisparticularlyapparentistheacting.ThoughthefilmfeatureswellknownactorssuchasWoodyHarrelson(“Zombieland”)andElizabethBanks(“30Rock”),itistheyoungercastmembersthatreallymakeanimpression. LiamHemsworth,whoplaysGale,isespeciallyexpressive.Despitehavinglittlescreentime,hecon-veyspowerfulemotionsthroughhiseyesandfacialexpressionsinaveryeffectivemanner. AlexanderLudwigalsogivesagreatperformancecausingtheaudiencetofeelempatheticforhisvil-lainouscharacter,acareernamedCato.Inthiswaythecharactersallseemrealistic,morethree-dimen-sional. Theactingandscorehelptieeverythingtogetherandmakethismovieaboutmorethanjustaviolentcompetition. “TheHungerGames”isafilmworthseeing.

‘Hunger Games’ satisfies audiencesEMILYCORNELISON “ The magnetic quality

of the film may be attributed to its portrayal of the frustrations of this decade.”

1) “Casablanca”Humphrey Bogart, who plays Rick Blaine, makes you want to watch his to-die-for facial expressions and handsome face. The passion and action packed twists and turns of the plot will have you saying “Here’s to looking at you kid” by the end of the movie.2) “On the Waterfront”3) “Ed Wood”4) “City Lights” (Silent film)5) “Lost Boundaries”

1) “The Royal Tenenbaums”Dysfunctional family? Check. Former child prodigies? Check. Messenger hawk? Check. The Royal Tenenbaums, directed by Wes Anderson and filled with actors like the Wilson brothers, Ben Stiller, and Gwyneth Paltrow, is the story of a family whose lackluster lives are turned upside down when their estranged father makes a surprise appearance in their lives. 2) “SLC Punk”3) “Ghost World”4) “Donnie Darko”5) “Garden State”

1) “Raiders of the Lost Ark”It’s No. 1 not because it’s a quintessential 80’s film, but because it embodies the blockbuster qualities that made the 80’s what they were in terms of film history. It also harkens back to the 40’s serial genre which gives the film a nostalgic feel. The climax, the opening of the ark, is still one of the best ever, not just for the “Indiana Jones” series, but for movies in general. It’s complete with cool special effects and the equally iconic face melting make-ups. 2) “Raging Bull”3) “Blade Runner”4) “Amadeus”5) “A Nightmare on Elm Street”

1) “We Bought A Zoo”When Ben (Matt Damon) and his two children move into their new home, they find out that it is just not a home, but a zoo in need of renovation. The family and the zoo staff soon learn that you have to work as a team to gain success, and you should always keep an open mind about everything. 2) “The Lion King”3) “The Goonies”4) “Up”5) “Despicable Me”

1) “Night of the Living Dead”Black and white. Old. No special effects and a lack of gore. Also? Totally awesome. With an edge of social commentary and a chilling realism, “Night” is a must for classic movie fans period, and something of a holy grail for horror movie mavens, rightfully so. 2) “Ginger Snaps”3) “Teeth”4) “The Descent”5) “Cabin Fever”

TAYLORHURLESMIKEALAAXTON DAMONHEINE MIATORRES

ANNAMARIECUNNINGHAM

Art by MikeAlA Axton

1) “The Godfather” (Parts 1 & 2)The first two parts of “The Godfather” are notable because they not only have some of the best acting, but they also show the complexity of an immigrant family trying to make it in an American society.2) “Angels with Dirty Faces”3) “A Bronx Tale”4) “Casino”5) “Scarface” (Original 1932 version)